Hong Kong police open child abuse probe after video of 10-year-old carrying beer goes viral

Hong Kong police have opened an investigation into the alleged child abuse of a 10-year-old girl who was filmed struggling to carry bags of beer. The incident, which occurred near Fu Tai Estate in Tuen Mun, was captured on video and subsequently went viral on social media. According to the police, the girl, who appeared to be struggling under the weight of two plastic bags filled with cans of beer and a damaged backpack, was reportedly told by passersby to call for help, to which she responded that her father did not permit others to assist her.

During an appearance on an RTHK programme, Tuen Mun district councillor Leo Chan stated that the police had concluded an initial investigation on Tuesday evening without finding any obvious signs of child abuse. The investigation was reportedly launched after a report was received around 10pm on Tuesday. Police sources indicated that the girl was "exercising" and had voluntarily picked up the beer bags.

The Hong Kong Police Force later reclassified the incident as a request for police assistance and transferred the case to the Child Abuse Investigation Unit of the New Territories North crime unit. The Tuen Mun Lutheran Tsang Shing Siu Leun School, where the girl is a student, also intervened and provided counseling and support to the student and her family. The school urged the public not to share or forward the videos, and to refrain from harassing or following the girl and her family to avoid causing further trauma.